and the cruise ship quarantine nightmare. the number of cases doubling including americans. the polls opening just hours from now in new hampshire. candidates stepping up attacks. a trailing joe biden unveiling his game planump with a rally of h own the new questions in the assassination of malcolm x the new documentary and why the 55-year-old case could be reopened. and kobe bryant's widow opening up her most personal message yet about the loss of the nba legend and their daughter. >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt good evening it was one of the biggest cyber attacks in history, stealing the personal information of nearly half of all americans from our social security numbers to birth dates. now in a stunning announcement the u.s. justice department is accusing a branch of the chinese military with the 2017 hack of the credit rating company equifax and

indicting four chinese nationals. tom costello has details. >> reporter: the scale of the equifax hack was staggering 145 million americans' names, birth dates and social security numbers stolen in some cases, driver's license and credit card information, too today the attorney general said forensics teams traced the hack back to china. announcing indictments against four members of a chinese military cyber unit called the 54th research institute. though, the fbi concedes it's unlikely they will ever face prosecution. >> this theft not only caused significant financial damage to equifax but invaded the privacy of many millions of americans. >> reporter: it happened in 2017 after equifax failed to patch a security flaw the government had warned about prosecutors say the chinese team hid their tracks by using 34 servers in nearly 20 countries. the fbi believes china also hacked marriott

u.s. government personnel office and insurance giant anthem as it builds a massive database on every american the ceo says like most companies they get attacked daily. >> which is why we're investing so heavily in our data security and transforming our technology to make sure the security is the strongest out there. >> reporter: advice to protect yourself use multi step authentication, check your credit report for unusual activity, and freeze your credit with all three rating agencies lifting the freeze only before making a big purchase. >> as american citizens, we cannot be complacent about protecting sensitive personal data. >> tom, i remember when this hack happened, there was concern about identities being stolen do we know if the chinese used this information at all >> reporter: no sign yet but it's believe to be an effort to gather information on americans, government, the military, big companies, universities to target them for blackmail or even espionage could be years down the road >> very worrying tom costello, thanks.

another major story tonight, the violent attacks on police two officers injured in a shoot-out at a walmart in arkansas on the heels of two ambushes in new york city that left a pair of officers wounded. here is nbc's gabe gutierrez. >> reporter: tonight, two police officers are recovering after a shootout at this arkansas walmart one officer shot four times. the gunman killed by police. >> with the officers' bravery and quick response, many lives were saved today. >> reporter: it's just the latest incident of violence directed at police today an nypd officer shot by a gunman over the weekend was released from the hospital police say the suspect opened fire on two officers sitting inside a police van in the bronx hitting the officer behind the wheel in the chin and neck then less than 12 hours later, investigators say the same suspect started shooting inside a police station officers pinned down and arrested him when he ran out of bullets.

45-year-old robert williams is facing several charges including attempted murder. >> he was depressed at times because his son got shot >> reporter: two senior law enforcement officials tell nbc news williams made a rambling statement and voiced anger over a 2018 arrest fo driving while intoxicated. blamed the new york attacks in part on weak leadership declaring the wonderful nyc police are under assault. the police sergeant's union said the nypd was declaring war on mayor bill de blasio isn't that a little strong >> no, it's factual. the cops in this city do not respect the mayor. >> reporter: the mayor responded our city is hurting right now. this is no time for division researchers have found while being a cop is dangerous, it's safer than 50 years ago since 1970, there has been a 75% drop in police officer line of duty deaths.

here in the bronx, the alleged gunman's attorney will only say that there is a lot we don't know about what led up to the shootings. tonight his client is being held without bail, lester. >> gabe gutierrez, thank you. new developments this evening in the coronavirus crisis china experiencing the deadliest day of the outbreak yet nearly 100 dead in 24 hours as the number of cases soars over 40,000 nbc's janis mackey frayer is in beijing. >> reporter: tonight, extreme measures to contain the virus in wuhan spraying disinfectant on buildings and cars and videos on social media showing quarantine squads looking for anyone with symptoms >> wow. >> reporter: people being taken away and what appears to be mass treatment centers. in cities like beijing, masks and anxiety the new norm and temperature checks to buy coffee, ride public transit or enter a building, millions returning to work this week but much of china still at a standstill and the outbreak is growing. on this cruise ship

docked in japan the number of confirmed cases doubling today including 25 americans. nbc's molly hunter spoke to passengers who are confined and frustrated >> we are definitely not safe on this ship and we need to be evaluated while some of us are still healthy. >> reporter: for 195 americans airlifted from wuhan two weeks ago, quarantined at a california military base ends tomorrow sergio is quarantined at a base in san antonio. >> to make sure i'm not infectious to my family or friends or anybody. just make sure i won't endanger my loved ones, especially the elderly. >> reporter: there are 12 confirmed cases in the u.s. and now chinese scientists are suggesting the incubation period for the virus could last up to 24 days. lester >> thank you. we're hours from the first presidential primary in new hampshire and

democratic candidates are stepping up their attacks on one another. kristen welker is there for us tonight. >> reporter: tonight, it's the final sprint in new hampshire as candidates make their closing arguments. the latest polls show senator bernie sanders with a narrow lead here with mayor pete buttigieg in second place and the fight for third could be critical for former vice president joe biden who struggled since his fourth place finish in iowa can you survive a fourth place finish here in new hampshire? >> sure i could. sure i could >> reporter: what's the path >> the path is south carolina and going into nevada and going into super tuesday. >> reporter: biden has shifted strategy going on the attack against buttigieg in recent days >> this guy is not a barack obama. >> reporter: buttigieg firing back over the weekend. >> he's right. i'm not and neither is he. >> reporter: biden defending his tougher stance with nbc news. >> who has had more attacks sent to them than anybody in the race by a factor of five me.

>> reporter: for his part, senator sanders has also intensified his criticism of buttigieg. >> unlike some of my opponents, i don't have contributions from the ceos. we don't want their money. we don't need their money. >> reporter: buttigieg accusing sanders of being too extreme. >> we cannot risk alienating americans at this critical moment, and that's where i part ways with my friend senator sanders. >> reporter: and gaining ground in the granite state senator amy klobuchar in the wake of a strong debate performance friday night. >> i cannot tell you how many people have been at my events who have said look, i'm an independent. i'm a moderate republican i'm going to vote for you. >> reporter: a new york mayor michael bloomberg, a relatively new entrant, is in third place. lester. >> kristen, thanks. president trump is also in new hampshire

tonight holding a big campaign rally for his supporters hallie jackson is there. is the president trying to grab the spotlight away from democrats? >> reporter: not just the spotlight tonight, lester he's trying to take the whole state from democrats come november i caught up with vice president pence on the campaign trail here today who told me he and the president absolutely want to put new hampshire in play in just about nine months from now. remember, they only lost here by a razor thin margin in 2016. just about half a percentage point so the counter programming tonight seems to be starting early. the crowd here some of them waited overnight, even in this new hampshire winter weather, just to get in line to be here, lester >> hallie jackson, thank you. a month after the iranian missile attack u.s. officials say 109 american service members were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries, a big jump from the 64 reported earlier. president trump had initially played down the injuries also tonight, we're hearing from the

wife of kobe bryant. her most emotional message yet about the loss of the nba legend and their daughter as three other chopper crash victims are honored at angel stadium. here is miguel almaguer. >> reporter: the tribute for the altobelli family on a field they adored. >> there is no way for me to put what they meant to me into words. >> reporter: john, keri and alyssa loved baseball but not nearly as much as each other. >> alyssa is the type of person that lived life to the fullest every day. >> reporter: keri was the heart of the altobelli family always by john's side as he entered his 28th season as baseball coach at orange coast college. >> it's just crazy how much i want to be like him and he means so much to all of us. >> reporter: not as famous as kobe bryant altobelli was legendary. several former players are now in the big leagues. over the weekend tributes for payton and sarah chester also on the helicopter that crashed with bryant and his daughter today vanessa bryant

writing, my brain refuses to accept kobe and gigi are gone. praying for all of the victims. john and keri altobelli leave behind a 29-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter tens of thousands of dollars have been raised on their behalf lester, it's been two weeks since the we'll be back in 60 seconds with new evidence in the case against lori loughlin. what it could mean for her future, and why prosecutors are reviewing who killed malcolm x decades later.

at the sexual assault trial of harvey weinstein today, a tough day for the prosecution. the defense calling witnesses that challenge the testimony of two accusers those witnesses former friends. stephanie gosk has details. >> reporter: brazilian actress talita maia left court today making it pretty clear how she felt >> i didn't want to come. >> why not >> i didn't want to be involved >> reporter: the prosecution may have wished she wasn't. maia's former roommate jessica mann says weinstein raped her.

maia who was there testified her friend did not seem upset the defense asked did she say anything bad or negative happened with harvey that morning? not that i recall. did she ever tell you harvey weinstein hurt her in any way no maia says mann used to call the hollywood producer her spiritual soul mate. in cross-examination maia revealed she had a falling out with mann prosecutors suggesting maia stayed in touch with weinstein afterwards the other accuser story on trial today, lauren young, a supporting witness and one of the alleged victims behind charges in l.a she says weinstein sexual assaulted her in 2013 in a hotel bathroom and that claudia salinas was there closing the door on her and the movie mogul. today salinas was unwavering asked by the defense, did you ever lock lauren young in a bathroom with harvey weinstein? no are you sure i'm sure salinas says she wasn't even in the room the prosecution saying

her story changed after initially talking to investigators. weinstein denies having nonconsensual sex. his defense expected to wrap before the end of the week. stephanie gosk, nbc news, new york the coast guard unloaded a huge haul of cocaine in san diego. nearly 20,000 pounds worth $338 million it was seized in a series of raids in the eastern pacific. the coast guard fired warning shots into the water ultimately intercepting high-speed boats used by drug runners. new evidence tonight in the college cheating cas against actress lori loughlin sam brock ha the resume faked to help get her daughter into school. >> reporter: as recently as five days ago, olivia jade whose famous parents are caught in the center of a scandal posted these pictures to instagram of life returning to normal. but now the former usc student is staring at a new layer of a deepening scandal. prosecutors releasing

this college resume in a court filing that appears to be olivia jade's, though the name is redacted and the bullet points with a litany of lies for a student that never participated in crew two gold medals, a fourth place finish at the head of the lagoon foster city and competitions dating last month, loughlin and her husband mossimo giannulli fashion designer argued payments to get their daughter into usc were legitimate donations, not bribes. the two, who have pleaded not guilty, face dozens of years behind bars for federal bribery and conspiracy for money laundering, mail and wire fraud the question now will olivia jade who has not been charged be dragged into the case. >> federal prosecutors may use her to pressure these defendants into pleading guilty rather than have their daughter testify against them >> reporter: the latest chapter in an ongoing saga sam brock, nbc news. tonight the

district attorney is reviewing the case of those convicted of killing malcolm x after a documentary raised new questions about who assassinated him. here is rehema ellis. the official count of who killed malcolm x, it's not true >> reporter: an explosive netflix documentary casts doubt on the assassination of malcolm x 55 years ago this month now the manhattan d.a.'s office says it will begin a preliminary review of the matter, something that will determine what further investigative steps may be undertaken. malcolm's family has always wanted to know more >> it's important to get answers about who gunned down my father. >> reporter: in a brazen attack, malcolm x was gunned down in front of his wife and children while giving a speech in harlem. >> we're brutalized because we're black people in america. >> reporter: malcolm became an even more controversial figure after his public falling out with the nation of islam.

>> i do believe there will be attempts on my life. >> reporter: three members of the nation of islam were arrested and convicted of malcolm's assassination in a case that raised questions from the start. one confessed and maintained the other two were innocent. a historian says the alibis of two of those convicted were ignored. >> two of them weren't even in the ballroom that day >> reporter: one of them died in 2009, maintaining his innocence. another, mohammed, released after 20 years is now 81 years old. his lawyer and the innocence project say they're grateful the d.a. is taking another look at one of the most high-profile murders in u.s. history. rehema ellis, nbc news, new york. we'll take a short break and then up next, a major outpouring of pride today after a history making win

after a historic night in hollywood, an outpouring of pride today for "parasite," which became the first foreign language film to win the oscar for best picture our kathy park has more. >> "parasite." >> reporter: a stunning win followed by disbelief. >> i'm speechless. >> reporter: a south korean film with its own hollywood ending especially for the director, bong joon-ho. >> thank you great honor. >> reporter: as the lights dimmed signaling the end of the show, a-listers in the front row insisting the cast and crew get their moment. >> hi, everybody

>> reporter: the dark thriller illustrates a deep divide between the rich and poor in south korea. why is this such a big moment for koreans >> it has been a ceiling shattering moment for the korean cinema and u.s. entertainment industry. >> reporter: the celebration stretched to south korea on tv and at an official meeting with president moon sharing the news. a new york city restaurant also re-created a dish you might remember seeing in the film. now advertised as best food in a feature film. >> whether you're rich or poor, everybody loves this instant noodle. >> reporter: "parasite" success particularly meaningful for awards criticized for lack of diversity. >> i feel like a very opportune moment in history is happening now. >> reporter: an international film soaring beyond the one-inch subtitles and drawing universal applause kathy park, nbc news. up next, we'll go

inside the competition for best in show

finally the big competition here in new york, who will be top dog in the westminster dog show here is erin mclaughlin >> reporter: backstage at the westminster dog show game faces are going on you're about to go on. how are you feeling? >> anxious. >> reporter: this parade for pooches, who will win best in show

>> here at westminster, any dog can win. >> reporter: maybe an ancient west african hunting hound but it's too soon to say at the second oldest sporting event in the country all the fluffing >> five hours once a week to bathe her. >> reporter: today fiercely strutting their stuff to claim best of group. what makes elton special? >> everything. >> reporter: the chance at canine glory. do you think he'll go all the way? >> sure, why not >> reporter: last year a wire fox terrier took top dog his name king arthur, some say he's got nothing on scamp the tramp winner of the 2019 world's ugliest dog contest. >> every dog is so cute in their own way. >> reporter: proof or woof beauty is in the eye of the beholder. >> all cute and all lovable. that's "nightly news," i'm lester holt thank you for watching and good night, everyone

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♪ i think i'm ready now [cheers and applause] >> kelly: give it up for my band, y'all what's up come up to "the kelly clarkson show"! all rights. we are celebrating all the fields february with songs about love all month long and i am feeling that britney spears hit. i love that song. that's the kind of stuff that keeps me in a jam. where is maria at? hi, maria. so why did you request "toxic"? >> i'm a big britney spears fan. i have watched her since she was on the mickey mouse club and i've seen her biggest residency twice. and "toxic" has